Periscope attachment for cash registers



Aug. 1, 1933- A. D. MAURY El" AL 1,920,473

PERISCOPE ATTACHMENT FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed Oct. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 1, 1933.

A. D. MAURY El AL 1,920, 47? PERISC-OPE TTACHMENT FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed 001i. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 1, 1933 UNITED STATES PERISC'OPE ATTACHDIENT FOR CASH REGISTERS Alfred D. Maury,llion, and John A. Fitz Gerald,

Utica, signments, Schmidt, Ilion,

,of one-t N. Y., Maurice, Mohawk, N. Y.,

N. Y., assignors, by direct and mesne asbird. to Theodore W. one-sixth to Charles E. one-third to said John A. Fitz Gerald, and one-sixth to said Alfred D. Maury Application October 5, 1931. Serial No.

3 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and the like, and has for itsobject a particularly simple and eflicient means by which the number or amount recorded on the printing ribbon or tape of the cash register is magnified and made visible to the customer, so that the indicators and mechanism heretofore used in recording machines is eliminated and also, if desired, the usual tickets, sometimes handed to the customer with the amount of the sale thereon, can be dispensed with.

The invention consists in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view'oi one form of a recording machine or cash register embodying this invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the projector.

Figure 3 is an elevation on a reduced scale of the projector.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the cash drawer of the machine showing one form of switch mechanism by which the lamp circuit of the projector is closed when the cash drawer opens.

The recording machine may be of any well .30 known form, size or construction.

As is well known by those skilled in the art, a cash register comprises a suitable casing 1, a bank of keys 2 which operate computing mechanism located in the casing 1 and printing mechanism or wheels located in the casing 1, the printing mechanism including a ribbon or tape 3 on which the type wheels print, the tape being fed after the printing operation to carry the number printed, from the printing line to the reading line where it has been heretofore visible only to the operator, the cash register also including a cash drawer 4 which is operable from closed to open position by the operation of a suitable operating member 5.

The cash register,'its computing and printing .mechanism per se forms no part of this invention and as a description and illustration of such mechanism is unnecessary for a complete understanding of this invention, such a description is thought to be unnecessary.

This invention comprises a projector arranged in juxta-position to the reading line of the printing mechanism or ribbon, and so spaced therefrom that the reading line is visible to the operator, the

55 projectorhaving a magnifying lens and mirrors arranged to magnify the image printed on the ribbon and project it where it is enlarged and visible to the customer.

7 designates the projector which includes a hollow head mounted on the upper portion of the casing of the machine and having a light entrance opening arranged over and spaced apart from the reading line of the ribbon 3 and anoutlet opening arranged at an angle to the light inlet opening and mirrors arranged in the body in the path of the light rays to direct them from the entrance opening to the projector opening.

'9 designates a magnifying lens located in the image of the number on the printing line is projected, this being presented preferably on the rear side of the cash register toward the customer and in.

a plane at an angle to' the plane of the lens 9.

l2 designates a mirror arranged in the casing to receive the light rays which pass through the magnifying lens 9, this being arranged at an inclined angle to the rays.

13 is a second mirror arranged to receive the reflected rays from the mirror 12 and project them to or through the glass 11.

The lens 11 is a' cylindrical convex lens. The casing of the projector is provided with a suitable bracket 14 by means of which it is attached to the casing 1 of the cash register. 15 designates an electric lamp suitably carried in a housing 16 carried by the projector casing, this being arranged to project the light rays on the number at the reading line of the ribbon 3.

The lamp is connected in a normally open circuit which is closed in order that the lamp may be illuminated when the cash drawer opens; as here shown, the circuit has spaced apart spring contacts 18 therein, normally arranged to press against the drawer or bottom thereof, and the drawer or bottom thereof is provided with a conductor 19 arranged to wipe contacts and be in contact therewith when the drawer opens. lens 9 is supported by an adjustable carrier 20, here shown as a tube telescoping on neck 10 and held in its adjusted position by friction or by any suitable means, as a set screw 21. When i the ,cash register is placed so that its back is toward the customer, the projector is arranged as shown in the drawings and the lens is adjusted so that the number on the tape is inthe focus of the lenses which is double spherical convex. Hence the lens reverses the image so that When the cash register is so located that its iront is sight opening, whereby the number at the read- -13 it is projected 2 it appears on the glass 11 normal or uninverted.

side is toward the customer, the projector mountedreversely to its position shown in the drawings and the lens 9 shifted sorthat the number at the printing line is out of focus, so that the image is not inverted by the lens.

In operation, the projector casing is mounted on the cash register so that 11 is toward the customer. The operator depresses the key denoting the price oi the goods purchased and any other keys that may be used in connection with recording the purchase, the depression printed by the printing wheels on the ribbon. He then presses the operatingrnember 5 which causes the printing mechanism to be actuated; the cash. drawer to open, and the ribbon to shift, carrying the number printed on the ribbon up to the reading line where it is visible to the operator; when at the reading line it is also under the entrance end of the projector or under the lens 9. When the cashdrawer opens, the circuit through the lamp 15 is closed, so that the light from the lamp is projected on to the number on the reading line, here shown as 17 and reflected through the magnifying lens 9, the lens magnifying the image on the mirror 12 from which it is projected to the mirror 13 and from the mirror to the cylinder lens 11. As this is translucent rather than transparent, the enlarged image of the number printed on the ribbon or tape is clearly visible to the customer. The projector is particularly advantageous in that iteliminates complicated indicator .mechanism and if desired additional tickets to be handed to the customer denoting the amount of the sale; further, in that it can be readily applied at a small cost to cash registers.

What we claim is:

1. The combination, with a cash register including a suitable case, recording ribbon mechanism, key operated printing on the ribbon in the case; of a unitary projector mountable on the case over the reading line of the ribbon and having a sight opening directed horizontally and a light entrance spaced from the ribbon over, the reading line and mi!- the projector lens of the keys causes the amount to be lens in printing mechanism for wa ers rors for reflecting the entrance from the light projected through the reading line through the the observer, and a lamp carried by the projector as a unit therewith and arranged to project light on the reading line of the ribbon from which it reflects through the projector.-

2. The combination with a cash register including a suitable case, recording ribbon mechanism and hey operated printing mechanism for printing on the ribbon; of a unitary projector ing line is visible to mountable on the case over thereading line of the ribbon and having a sight opening directed horizontally, the projector having its light entrance spaced apart irom the ribbon over the reading line, whereby the number at the printing line is visible to the observer and a lamp carried by the projector as a unit therewith and arrangedv to project light on the reading line of the ribbon from which it reflects through the projector, said projector the entrance thereof, and mirrors for reflecting the light passing through the lens through the sight opening.

' 3. The combination with a cash register, including a suitable case, recording ribbon mechanism and key operated printing mechanism for printing on the ribbon; of a unitary projector mountable on the case over the reading line of the ribbon and having a sight opening directed horizontally, the projector having its light entrance spaced apart from the ribbon over the reading line whereby the number at the printing line is visible to the observer and a lamp arranged to project light on the reading line of the ribbon from which it reflects through he projector, said projector having a magnifying lens in its entrance and mirrors for reflecting the light passing through the lens through .the sight opening, the projector being interchangeable as aunit and mountable on the cash register to present the sight opening forward or rearward and the lens being adjustable to invert the image when the projector case is arranged in one of said positions.

. ALFRED D. MAURY.

JOHN 'A. FITZ GERAID.

having a magnifying v Q 

